maiden Test hundred by Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan recover

2024.02.05

A maiden Test hundred by Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan recover in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, as the tourists ended day three on 199-1 on Sunday.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Only Test, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka 439/10 (109.2 ov)

Afghanistan 198/10 (62.4 ov) & *199/1 (75 ov)

Stumps : Day 3 – Afghanistan trail by 42 runs

Afghanistan gave up a 241-run advantage after being shot out for 198 in the first innings, but they fought back.

In the final over of the day, Ibrahim achieved his first Test hundred with a single to covers, surpassing his previous highest score of 87 and ending undefeated on 101.

Despite receiving two reprieves, the 22-year-old opening batsman is the only Afghan to reach a century in a Test match.

The first came on 39 when Nishan Madushka at short mid-off lost a catch off of Jayasuriya’s bowling, while the second came on 63 when Prabath Jayasuriya made a difficult return catch.

The foundation for Afghanistan’s second innings was laid by Ibrahim and Noor Ali Zadran’s extraordinary 106-run partnership for the first wicket.

That was better than Ibrahim and Javed Ahmadi’s 53-run partnership against the West Indies in 2019.

Following tea, Asitha Fernando gave the batsmen a challenge by swinging the ball in reverse, and when he trapped the rookie leg before wicket, Noor Ali was removed for 47.

With the afternoon session ending without a wicket for Sri Lanka, this was a much-needed breakthrough for the team.

After joining Ibrahim, all-rounder Rahmat Shah, who had scored the most runs in the first innings, added 93 runs without a break for the second wicket. He was 46 years old and still going strong.

Following a hard blow to the helmet by Naveed Zadran’s fast bowling debutant Chamika Gunasekara, Kasun Rajitha was called into the side.

After resuming on their overnight score of 410–6, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 439 after losing their final four wickets for a total of 12 runs.

According to Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka, “Afghanistan, we know, do not have a proper place to train… and the players are spread across the globe.”

“If they get regular opportunities in Test match cricket, they will become a formidable team.”

@charith